Synonyms: Quality Assurance Tester, QA Tester, Video Game Tester

Table of Contents

• Quick Facts
• Day in the Life
• Common Characteristics
• How to Become a Video Game Tester
• Specialties and Similar Career Paths
• Advice from Trent

Quick Facts

What video game testers do:

Video game testers play and test games to find and report bugs and issues, ensuring the game works properly before release. They document defects and help developers fix problems to improve the game’s quality.

Median income:

$50,000 annually or $19.43 per hour.

Lifestyle:

Video game testers work long hours in an office or remote settings, particularly near game releases, with repetitive tasks and detailed documentation. Testers often work in team environments under high pressure to meet deadlines, contributing to developing high-quality games.

Education requirements:

A degree can help, but a strong portfolio showcasing your skills with tools like Unreal Engine and completing relevant online courses are often more important for becoming a video game tester.

Job outlook:

The future for video game testers is bright, with a projected 25% growth in employment, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.

This is perfect for you if:

• You love video games
• You enjoy investigating to solve problems in a game
• You have the patience to test and report game issues

If that sounds like you, definitely watch our interview with Trent Dubberke to learn more about being a video game tester here!

Day in the Life

Schedule:

Standard full-time hours during regular business days, but may often extend into evenings, weekends, and holidays, especially as project deadlines approach.

Setting:

Video game testers usually work in office settings at game development studios or remotely from home.

Tasks:

Playing games, reporting issues to developers, verifying fixes, testing game features, and providing feedback on gameplay and user experience.

Topics:

New game development technologies, testing methodologies, and quality assurance tools. They also stay updated on industry trends, gaming platforms, and emerging bugs or issues to improve their testing effectiveness.

Skills:

Proficient in bug-tracking software, experienced with various gaming platforms and consoles, knowledgeable in scripting languages, and well-versed in game development processes.

Tools:

A laptop or computer equipped with tools such as Excel for organizing and analyzing data, and game engines like Unreal Engine and Bethesda’s Creation Engine for testing and developing game elements.

Common Characteristics

Natural Talents (strengths):

Video game testers naturally excel at organization, attention to detail, deductive and inductive reasoning, oral comprehension and expression, and problem sensitivity, enabling them to meticulously track data, identify and communicate issues, and ensure the overall quality of the game.

Interests:

Analyzing and identifying game issues, hands-on problem-solving, and following detailed procedures and documentation for technical tasks.

Personality:

Video game testers typically have investigative, conventional, and realistic personality types. They are analytical, organized, structured, and practical.

Values:

Achieving goals, favorable working conditions, job security, and collaboration with the team.

*Terms used to describe interests and personality are based on the Holland Framework.

How to Become a Video Game Tester

Education requirements:

A degree is often beneficial, but not always required. However, building a strong portfolio demonstrating skills in animation, level design, and familiarity with tools like Unreal Engine can also be crucial for entering the field. 

Preferred majors:

Pursuing majors in computer science, information technology, software engineering, game design and development, or mathematics and engineering can be beneficial.

Specialties and Similar Career Paths

Advice from Trent

Job hunt tips to set yourself apart:

Build a strong portfolio showcasing skills in game testing, such as bug reporting and familiarity with game engines like Unreal Engine. Networking within the gaming industry, staying updated with job postings on gaming websites, and gaining certifications in relevant software tools can greatly enhance job prospects.

Fastest way to get your foot in the door:

Start practicing with Unreal Engine 5, utilizing resources such as YouTube tutorials and Udemy courses to learn game design and testing techniques without needing extensive coding knowledge. Focus on building a portfolio of projects to showcase your skills to potential employers.

Recommended resources:

Trent recommends starting with Unreal Engine for hands-on experience and completing Udemy courses for certifications in game design and development. He also suggests reading the book, Developing the Leader Within You 2.0 by John C. Maxwell for leadership skills applicable across different fields.

What Trent would tell his younger self if he was just getting started:

“If I were advising my younger self just starting out, I would emphasize the importance of going all in on game design—giving it my full effort and dedicating time to self-education beyond what’s taught in school. I’d also stress the value of responsibly using AI technology like ChatGPT to learn and grow skills effectively, rather than just copying information, as it can significantly enhance productivity and creativity in game development and beyond.”

Watch the full interview with Trent:

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